Cal State L.A. Chair is Elected to National Theatre Conference


Stephen Rothman, chair of the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance at California State University, Los Angeles, has been elected to membership in the National Theatre Conference.

Founded in 1925, NTC has a limited membership of 120 persons who are artistic directors and other theater professionals from across the country, as well as university theater faculty, particularly department chairs, many of whom work actively in the field. The organization initiates and support projects of value and significance with a view to strengthening and broadening the influence of American theater. NTC members meet annually to exchange views on and to promote the profession of theater.

Rothman received his B.S. and M.F.A. from Florida State University. Before joining the Cal State L.A. faculty in spring, 2001, he was associate professor of theater at Pennsylvania State University and producing director of Pennsylvania Centre Stage, the professional theater arm of Penn State (1998-2001).

Based in Los Angeles from 1979 to 1998, Rothman is best known by southern California theatergoers as founder and producing artistic director of the revitalized Pasadena Playhouse. He coordinated the then multi-million dollar restoration of the three-theater complex and directed numerous productions in each space. In California, he also served as artistic director of the Sacramento Theatre Company, and produced West Coast premieres that included Hometown Heroes, California Schemin’ and Orphans, presented in American Sign Language at Deaf/West Theatre. His March 1997 Sacramento production of Love Letters, starring then-Governor Pete Wilson and his wife Gayle, made L.A. Times front-page news. Rothman has been producing director of the Paramount Arts Centre, and associate executive director of the Asolo State Theatre. He was theater management consultant for the El Portal Theatre in Los Angeles for many years.

In addition to directing over 100 shows at more than 50 different theaters around the country, Rothman has directed television productions, including two seasons on The New WKRP in Cincinnati. He has taught master classes and held adjunct professorships at USC, CSU Davis, Illinois State University, and Florida State University, and held a three-time appointment as the Iben Lecturer at Bradley University in Illinois.

In 2000, Rothman received a Carbonell Award as Best Director for his work on David Rambo’s play, God’s Man in Texas. The play won the most honors for a non-musical, including best play, supporting actor, lighting and set design, and has since become one of the most popular new plays in the regional theater circuit. The Carbonell Awards are given by the South Florida Critic’s Association and the Theatre League of South Florida. In 1997, Rothman received the Los Angeles Dramalogue award for his direction of Orphans.

The Palm Beach Post has hailed Rothman a director who “understands the balancing act of tones and characters,” and the Los Angeles Times called his most recent directorial work at Cal State L.A. (Burning Patience) “captivating.” Rothman is preparing to direct Cal State L.A.’s production of El Grande de Coca Cola in May.

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